Cross-Cultural Communication in Jhabvala’sA Backward Place

Abstract

The present research is an inquiry into the major characters inA Backward Placeby Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Etta, Judy and Clarissa, all westerners, are in India for different purposes. Etta is in India because of a chance marriage to an Indian. Judy gets married to an Indian to escape from her country whereas Clarissa is unmarried and ever after idyllic beauties available in India. Etta develops a sense of dislike towards this ‘backward place’, Judy adopts an Indian personality and Clarissa seems ambivalent. The exposure to eastern socio-cultural pattern generates diverse attitudes in them as they react differently. The contrasting attitudes of them towards India are the results of two contrastingly different cultures communicating.